R 261854Z MAR 13
ALCOAST 132/13
COMDTNOTE 4050
SUBJ: TRANSFER SEASON 2013 HOUSEHOLD GOODS (HHG) SHIPPING INFORMATION
AND MANDATORY CUSTOMER SATISFACTION SURVEY
1. Transfer season 2013 will be in full swing soon and whether a
member is performing a long distance permanent change of station
(PCS) move or a funded short distance move, HHG counseling is
necessary. HHG counseling may be conducted in person by a
Transportation Officer (TO), or members may self counsel using the
Defense Personal Property System (DPS). Requests for short distance
HHG moves, including those to or from unusually arduous sea duty,
must be forwarded to COMDT (CG-1222) for consideration.
2. The time period between 15 May and 31 July is the peak of the HHG
moving season. If at all possible, members should avoid requesting a
HHG shipment during this peak season. As soon as possible after
receipt of authenticated Permanent Change of Station (PCS) orders,
members should contact their HHG transportation office to request a
HHG movement, or self counsel in DPS. The earlier a HHG shipment is
requested the more likely the requested packing, pick-up, and
delivery dates can be met. Requested dates are not guaranteed, so
members should not cancel or enter into a rental agreement, lease, or
buy or sell a home until they have verified with their TO and their
Transportation Service Provider (TSP) that their requested dates are
confirmed.
3. After a member receives their authenticated PCS orders, please
direct them to www.move.mil to register in DPS. DPS allows members
and spouses to self counsel, request HHG packing, pick-up and
delivery dates, and file any necessary damage claims directly with
the TSP from their desk or home. After a member registers in DPS, it
will take up to 72 hours to receive their user name and password to
schedule their move. Because a common access card is required to
register in DPS, members conducting their first or last move
(accession, separation, or retirement) should visit a transportation
office to set up their HHG shipment.
4. DPS is not available underway. If members assigned afloat cannot
schedule their HHG movements while in port, they may see their legal
assistance office or transportation office to grant another person a
special power of attorney to schedule their HHG movements.
5. During HHG peak season it may be difficult to secure a Government
contracted TSP that meets everyones desired packing, pick-up, and
delivery dates. If a TSP cannot be contracted that meets a members
desired dates, members have the option to conduct a Personally
Procured Move (PPM), previously known as a Do-It-Yourself Move. If a
member properly conducts a PPM they will receive an incentive payment
up to 95 percent of what it would have cost the Government to move
their HHGs based on certified weight tickets, not to exceed their
maximum weight allowance, at the Governments best value rate in one
shipment. More information on PPMs will be published in a separate
ALCOAST.
6. Exceeding HHG weight limits is the number one reason members pay
excess costs for HHG shipments. To avoid paying excess costs members
must be aware of their maximum HHG weight allowance, found in the
Joint Federal Travel Regulations (JFTR), U5310.b.2. To reduce HHG
weight and prevent excess costs, members are encouraged to dispose of
any unwanted or unneeded HHG. To help estimate HHG weights, a weight
estimating tool is available on the www.move.mil web site. Also, the
TSP will estimate the weight of members HHG during the pre-move
survey. If a member desires a witnessed HHG reweigh it must be
requested before HHGs are delivered. It is not possible to reweigh
HHGs after delivery.
7. Professional books, papers, and equipment, also known as pro
gear, do not count toward a members HHG weight allowance. However,
all items claimed as pro gear must meet the definition of pro gear in
JFTR U5310-C and JFTR Appendix A. Items not meeting the description
of pro gear will count toward a members maximum HHG weight allowance.
Because spousal pro gear is limited to 500 pounds, a member cannot
combine their pro gear with spousal pro gear. An itemized inventory
of spousal pro gear must be provided to the TO at the time of
counseling and must indicate the profession for which the items are
being used (e.g. lawyer, doctor, teacher). The itemized inventory of
spousal pro gear must be certified by the members signature.
8. Members are responsible for ensuring pro gear is separated from
HHG during packing and weighed separately during pick-up. All pro
gear must be identified as such on the TSP inventory sheet at origin
and the estimated weight must be entered on the Application for
Shipment and/or Storage of Personal Property, DD Form 1299. Ensure
the term M-PRO is used to identify the military members pro gear and
S-PRO is used to identify spousal pro gear. Each line item for pro
gear must indicate M-PRO/S-PRO, cubic ft, and pounds. Pro gear
cannot be claimed after the fact. There are no exceptions or waivers
to this policy.
9. Another important feature of DPS is the ability to grade a TSPs
performance by submitting a Customer Satisfaction Survey (CSS). The
CSS process is simple and its importance cannot be overstated. The
CSS is used to document positive and negative experiences and helps
determine the number of military HHG shipments a TSP will receive in
the future. Because the CSS can only be completed after delivery of
HHG, members should make note of anything positive or negative they
would like to include in their CSS.
10. Damage claim submission is the responsibility of the member.
Completion and submission of the Joint Statement of Loss or Damage at
Delivery, DD Form 1840 by the member and TSP, and the Notice of Loss
or Damage, DD Form 1840R by the member after the TSP departs does not
constitute filing a claim. These forms are only used for proper
notification of loss or damage to a TSP. A claim is separate and
distinct, and must be submitted in a timely manner. See www.move.mil
and the Coast Guard Finance Centers (FINCEN) web site
www.fincen.uscg.mil/hhg.htm for guidance on HHG damage claim
submissions. If a TSP offers to submit a claim on a members behalf,
the member should decline the TSPs offer and request all
documentation associated with their move to submit the claim
themselves.
11. Full replacement value (FRV) protection now applies to all HHG
shipments. It is important for service members to understand that
FRV does not mean that a member will receive the full replacement
cost for every item lost, damaged, or destroyed. To find more
information on FRV a member can visit the Army Surface Deployment and
Distribution Command (SDDC) web site
www.sddc.army.mil/pp/default.aspx. If a member desires additional
HHG damage insurance they may purchase it from a private insurance
provider.
12. The pamphlet "Its Your Move" contains guidance about shipping
HHGs. This pamphlet and other useful HHG information are available
at www.fincen.uscg.mil/hhg.htm. Additional HHG transportation
information can also be found at the SDDC web site
www.sddc.army.mil/pp/default.aspx.
13. In accordance with JFTR, par. U5417, members with dependents who
own more than one POV may ship a second POV within the Continental
United States (INCONUS). However, the member and their dependents
must travel together in one POV, and commercial travel at government
expense is not authorized for the member or any dependents. The
Governments reimbursement for transporting a second POV will be
limited to the monetary allowance in lieu of transportation (MALT)
plus per diem a member or dependent would have been entitled to for
non-concurrent travel by two POVs to the new PDS, or the actual cost
to ship a second POV whichever is less. Any excess costs incurred to
ship a second POV will be borne by the member. Members must
personally arrange for shipment of a second POV INCONUS and are not
entitled to reimbursement for delivery to, or pick-up from the
carrier. Members orders must reflect this entitlement and display
the maximum reimbursement computations. The entitlement to ship a
POV INCONUS when the member is physically unable to drive or there is
insufficient time in accordance with JFTR, par. U5415 may only be
authorized by COMDT (CG-1222).
14. To ensure members are aware of their HHG transportation
entitlements and the requirements of this ALCOAST commands are to
ensure that all members departing PCS receive a printed copy of this
ALCOAST. Also, HHG counseling should be placed on each units PCS
check in/out sheet.
15. COMDT (CG-1222) POC is CWO Randy Jeffery at 202-475-5393,
James.R.Jeffery(at)uscg.mil or Mr. Tony Pearson at 202-475-5368,
Anthony.H.Pearson(at)uscg.mil.
16. RADM Steven E. Day, Acting Director Reserve and Military
Personnel Policy sends.
17. Internet release authorized.